Son of Sinaloa drug lord missing from prison in Mexico

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

Policemen enter a prison as part of an operation due to the escape of Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon, son of a notorious drug lord, in Culiacan, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, Mexico March 16, 2017. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The son of one of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords is missing from prison in the capital of the northwestern state of Sinaloa and is presumed to have escaped, local media reported on Thursday.

Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon was missing from a prison in Culiacan, the deputy security minister for Sinaloa state told national newspaper Excelsior. Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports with state authorities.

Other local media reported he had escaped the prison, and said a search operation was underway.

Esparragoza Monzon is the son of Juan Jose Esparragoza, alias “El Azul”, one of the three top leaders of the powerful Sinaloa gang and the one who kept the lowest profile.

In 2014 rumours circulated that Esparragoza, the father, had died. The reports have not been confirmed by authorities.

The Sinaloa cartel’s most well known boss, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was extradited to the United States in January to face trial. Guzman had escaped prison through a tunnel in 2015 before being caught again early last year.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is the third leader of the Sinaloa cartel and is currently at large.